Irish Meatloaf is tender and juicy and perfect for Saint Patrick's Day. I serve it with a delicious coleslaw and creamed spinach sauce.
Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food, but why not give it an Irish twist? This Irish Meatloaf recipe takes a classic and elevates it with rich Irish Cheddar and a side of creamy, flavorful coleslaw and spinach cream sauce. It’s hearty, satisfying, and easy enough for a weeknight meal, yet special enough for Sunday dinner.
Why You'll Love This Irish Meatloaf Recipe
Packed with Flavor – The combination of ground venison and pork makes this Irish meatloaf incredibly juicy and rich.
Melty Irish Cheddar – A gooey, cheesy center turns every bite into a treat.
Easy and Family-Friendly – This is a simple, straightforward recipe that’s perfect for busy home cooks.
Creamed Spinach Sauce for the Win – It’s indulgent, velvety, and the perfect way to sneak in some greens.
The Inspiration Behind This Dish
Meatloaf is as American as it gets, but stuffing it with sharp Irish Cheddar brings it into St. Patrick’s Day territory. To make it a full meal, I serve it with a creamy coleslaw and a creamed spinach sauce, infused with a hint of curry. Why curry? It’s a nod to a popular Irish tradition—dipping “chips” in curry sauce. The result? A perfectly balanced plate that’s meaty, creamy, and just a little tangy.
Choosing Venison For The Best Meatloaf
For the best texture and flavor, I use a mix of two-thirds ground venison and one-third ground pork. The pork adds just enough fat to keep the venison juicy. If you don’t have venison on hand, you can swap it for ground beef, but I highly recommend the wild game version - it’s leaner and more flavorful.
How Long To Cook Meatloaf
The cooking time for this Irish Meatloaf depends on the size of your loaf. Using a standard 9x5-inch loaf pan, this meatloaf takes about 45 minutes to an hour in a 350 degree F oven. If you’re in a hurry, you can shape the mixture into mini meatloaves and bake them in a muffin tin for just 30 minutes.
How To Make Irish Meatloaf With Coleslaw And A Creamed Spinach Sauce
Venison Meatloaf
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground venison, ground pork, breadcrumbs, steak seasoning, onion, eggs, and heavy whipping cream. Mix lightly with a fork, but don’t overwork it.
- Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
- Lightly press half the meat mixture into the pan.
- Spread the grated Irish Cheddar over the center, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
- Add the remaining meat mixture and press gently to seal in the cheese.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Coleslaw & Creamed Spinach Sauce
- While the meatloaf rests, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the coleslaw and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Stir in the spinach (or kale) and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and curry powder and cook for 1 more minute.
- Pour in the heavy whipping cream, stir well, and remove from heat.
Meatloaf Serving Suggestions
To serve, place a couple of slices of Irish meatloaf over a bed of mashed potatoes. Spoon the coleslaw and creamed spinach sauce over the top. This combination creates a perfect balance of flavors - savory, creamy, and just a little tangy.
Why You'll Love This Creamed Spinach Sauce
There are two types of people: those who love creamed spinach and those who haven’t had it done right. This sauce is the perfect blend of buttery, velvety, and rich flavors. Plus, it adds a gorgeous pop of green to your plate - so your spouse won’t ask, “Where’s the vegetable?”
Make It Your Own
No venison? Swap it with ground beef or turkey.
Prefer a spicier kick? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the spinach sauce.
Want to make it ahead? Prep the meatloaf mixture, cover, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking.
More Ground Venison Recipes
I hope this easy Hawaiian Roll sliders recipe becomes a new favorite for you. If you are looking for more dinner inspiration, you can find all of my ground venison recipes here.
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DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE
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The Best Irish Meatloaf with Coleslaw and Creamed Spinach Sauce
Ingredients
Venison Meatloaf Ingredients
- 1 pound ground venison
- 8 ounces ground pork
- 1 cup Italian-style panko bread crumbs
- 2 Tablespoons Montreal steak seasoning
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 eggs, beaten
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 ounces Irish Cheddar cheese, freshly grated
Coleslaw & Spinach Cream Sauce Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 4 cups Tri-Color Coleslaw
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, roughly chopped
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
Venison Meatloaf Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground venison, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Montreal steak seasoning, yellow onion, eggs, and heavy whipping cream and mix lightly with a fork.
- Spray a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
- Lightly press ½ of the meat mixture into the loaf pan.
- Spread the grated Irish Cheddar cheese in the middle of the meat mixture, leaving 1-inch around the edges.
- Add the remaining meat mixture and gently close the gaps, pressing the sides to seal in the cheese.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving
Coleslaw & Creamed Spinach
- While the meatloaf is resting, add the butter to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the coleslaw and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the spinach or kale and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and curry powder and cook for another 1 minute.
- Add the heavy whipping cream, stir together, and remove from heat.
- When ready to serve, place a couple of slices of the Irish meatloaf over some mashed potatoes and spoon some of the coleslaw and creamed spinach over it.
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